Hey Matt,
How is the recovery coming along?
The post above rang a Bell in my head and I have a question.
My new tank has started to mature, and nutrients have kicked in with the new fish.
My N is around 15 and fairly stable (Using Matrix), but my P which was around 0.1 has slowly risen over time to P=0.25
I see nothing wrong with SPS Frags, and Unlike in the Past, I am getting growth and Encrusting. Days not weeks. (Feels Weird, compared to last tank)
Nothing has bleached, including sensitive stuff like PacMan, IceFire, Strawberry Shortcake. (Feels weirder)
I started a bit a PhosGuard (Like GFO with Iron, but Aluminum Based Product).
Stayed away from GFO.... don't know why, but tried something else (I guess more gentle using baggie not reactor, which I remove and put back as needed.).
Slowly my P has dropped during two day of use From 0.24 to 0.22[/B] and will continue to drop over next many days. My Target is to get slowly to P=0.1 just like you did.
Zero Alage on my rocks. Scrubber Dead slow as usual. (Theory is too low Iron, which GFO reactor used to provide)
Wondering what is the goal lower P=0.1 for SPS, if currently my Frags look fine at P=0.22?
Is it SPS long term health? Color? Something Else?
Wally, THIS is the million dollar question and I really don't think that there is one ultimate answer..
As you may know, I have run my system with very high po4 - up to .3 and I have also run it lower- down to .03 or so. I have had decent but never spectacular results in my tank. I have also had the same variance with n. Between 50 ppm and under 1 ppm.
My target going forward is to keep n between 3 and 8 and p between .03 and .08..
And to get back to your question; why... well because I would say that this is probably the range that has the largest consensus from reefers for a good target.
There will always be outliers who will claim with 100%certainty that below or above is either perfectly acceptable or necessary.. I won't bother speaking too much to that because I have had my tank above and below this target as well...
So, manageability is the reason I'm going with. I guess technically letting nutrients just spiral out of control is easier to manage because it requires no intervention, I'm just not comfortable with that little control. And on the other hand, forcing the tank to drop very low in nutrients seems too extreme. I'm looking for a manageable middle ground which just so happens to also be where the largest consensus is.
Having said all of this, I think what is even more important than the actual levels is- yes you guessed it- the absolute stability of these levels.
One thing I have seen over the years with my tank is that corals are much more tolerant of slowly rising nutrient levels. They can more easily adapt to this change and continue to look great. Imo, the reverse is not nearly as easily tolerated.
Corals seem to really hate when the nutrient levels they have adapted to begin to drop.
Maybe amino acids and/or trace elements and/or vitamins will help the corals adapt to a nutrient reduction but that requires a reefer's experimention with his or her own tank.
In your case, since you are using a fuge for nutrient reduction (along with the aluminum based po4 binder) maybe you should look into what may be inhibiting your cheato growth.. you certainly have enough n an p for it.. other necessary requirements are iron and potassium. It also requires other trace elements like zinc and manganese and iodine... and perhaps others..
I know this is only a half answer but it's because so many methods will work.. One has to find the method that one is both most comfortable with and also achieves success with.
Hope this helps, Wally!
